A new giant keelback slug of the genus Limax from the Balkans, described by citizen scientists

Abstract

Despite their large size, striking colouration and genital extravagance, the taxonomy of the European giant keelback slugs of the genus Limax is still poorly understood. Preliminary morphological and molecular data suggest that many unnamed or unrecognised species exist, especially in the Alps, the Mediterranean and the Balkans.We organised a citizen science expedition to Durmitor National Park in Montenegro and discovered a new species, genetically distinct, but morphologically similar to the sympatric L. cinereoniger Wolf 1803 and describe it as L. pseudocinereoniger.

Keywords

• malacology
• Limacidae
• slugs
• taxonomy
• The Balkan